Islamic law finds a role in Britain

Because the child abuse case is in the British criminal court system, it will have to be resolved there, the judges say. But if the woman writes a letter to the Sharia council certifying that she has tried and failed to reconcile the marriage, the judges say, she can be granted an Islamic divorce.

Back in London, the judges there foundered over what they saw as the irrelevant issue of the taweez. The husband said he had paid about $10,000 to have the spell undone, but it seemed to have been wasted money.

"It seems these taweez people are just going into business now, one doing taweez, the other undoing taweez," said council member Hasan, with just a trace of irritation.

"We cannot take into consideration taweez in deciding Sharia matters," said the council president, Mohammed Abu Said.

What to do? Call in the parties, see who might still love whom.

"A meeting should take place," Hasan declared, and the judges flipped to the next document in their thick stacks of troubled lives.

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kim.murphy@latimes.com